Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

Book Review

Stories in Uniform A Look at the Heroics, Laughs, Sorrows, and Tragedies of Our Soldiers Review And Giveaway

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Stories in Uniform A Look at the Heroics, Laughs, Sorrows, and Tragedies of Our Soldiers Review And GiveawayStories in Uniform
A Look at the Heroics, Laughs, Sorrows, and Tragedies of Our Soldiers
By Editors of Reader’s Digest
Published by Reader’s Digest
Hardcover: 224 pages
May 2, 2013; $15.99 US/$16.29 CAN; 9781621450634

Description
From boot camp to combat, a collection of Reader’s Digest’s unique, emotional, and wide-ranging coverage of military life.

Stories in Uniform is a chronological retrospective of the best military pieces Reader’s Digest has run; pieces that will make you weep, make your heart sing, inspire you, enrage you, and make you laugh. Beginning in World War I and continuing though to the war in Iraq, readers will follow soldiers into the trenches, peer in on emergency surgery taking place in the depths of the ocean, watch heroes carry the bodies of fallen brethren, trail Eisenhower for the three days leading up to D-Day, and be inspired as men and women rise above and beyond normal human limits to preserve our rights and save their friends.

Stories include:

  • A moving memorial to D-Day
  • A tribute to one of the first African-Americans to serve as a Naval Officer • A pilot rescued after his F-16 is shot down
  • A soldier returns to the front after losing his foot in action
  • An American soldier who takes a big risk to save a dying Afghan girl

This book gives a complete perspective on the hell that is war, the love that grows from camaraderie, the pride from accomplishing the impossible, the humor that springs from the military bureaucracy, and more.

About Reader’s Digest
RDA is a global media and direct marketing company that educates, entertains and connects more than 130 million consumers around the world with products and services from trusted brands. With offices in 43 countries, the company reaches customers in 78 countries, publishes 91 magazines, including 50 editions ofReader’s Digest, the world’s largest-circulation magazine, operates 78 branded websites and sells 40 million books, music and video products across the world each year. Further information about the company can be found at www.rda.com.

For more information please visit http://www.rda.com, and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Stories-Uniform-Heroics-Sacrifices-Soldiers/dp/1621450635

Link to Reader’s Digest Store: http://www.rdtradepublishing.com/book_display.php?isbn13=9781621450634

Julie’s Thoughts: I am a big fan of books like this. I love to read the stories and learn more what it was like in previous wars. I like that the stories come from different points of view. They are not all told from someone who went to war but from the family members too. Each of the stories in the book is short which is nice if you only have a few minutes to read each day. Make sure to keep a tissue by you when you read this book, you will need it.

Giveaway: I will be giving away TWO copies of this book to a couple of my readers. Just enter using the Rafflecopter below!

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* I was provided a review company for this post.

The 5 Money Personalities Review and Giveaway

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The 5 Money Personalities

Do you and your spouse argue about money? We took premarital counseling when we were engaged and took a test. It was pretty in-depth asking us about everything. From the test we found out that we would usually always argue about money. We were raised very differently and because of that we don’t always see eye to eye on things.  After 10.5 years of marriage, the test we took way back then has proved to be correct. Although we work out our disagreements, it is still an area we sometimes don’t agree.

That is why I was excited to see this book and the opportunity to review it. The 5 Money Personalities: Speaking the Same Love and Money Language by Scott & Bethany Palmer.

About The 5 Money Personalities

The hidden key to a healthy relationship is not just managing money but understanding how the other approaches money.

Every couple argues about money. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been married for 40 years or dating for 4 months, money touches every decision you make as a couple—from the $5 cup of coffee to the $50,000 car. And when the two of you don’t see eye-to-eye on how much to spend or how much to save, that’s when arguments turn into ugly toxic fights that leave both persons feeling hurt and angry. It’s why money has become the #1 cause of divorce in the U.S. Obviously, something needs to change. The reason this crisis has not been addressed is because it has never been identified, defined, or given a name. Scott and Bethany Palmer, aka “The Money Couple,” have identified and defined this problem and offer concrete solutions to fix it.

Once you know your Money Personality, you can get to the root of money arguments and start really working together. You’ll discover what has an impact on your loved one’s money decisions, and you’ll learn how to talk about money in a way that’s actually fun! You’ll figure out how to put an end to money secrets and lies once and for all.

It’s not just about money management, and it’s definitely not just about overcoming debt. It is a whole new way of living that will change everything in your relationship. Tens of thousands have already been transformed. Are you ready?

About Scott & Bethany Palmer

“The Money Couple”, have dedicated their lives to helping other strengthen their relationships with the 5 Money Personalities. With 43 years of combined financial planning experience, they launched “The Money Couple” and are regulars on national TV and radio and speak internationally about love and money. Scott and Bethany enjoy an active lifestyle in Colorado with their two young sons, Cole and Cade.

 

My Thoughts- This book is a great way to understand how your view money and why you might clash with your spouse. You can take the quiz at The Money Couple to find out what your money personality is. I took it and found the results interesting.

Your Primary Money Personality is Security Seeker

  • You like to have a plan
  • You like predictability
  • Your future is determined
  • You’re willing to sacrifice
  • You are prepared

Your Secondary Money Personality is Saver

  • You get a genuine rush from saving money
  • Rarely spend impulsively
  • Willing to research in order to find the lowest price
  • Enjoy getting a “good deal”
  • Celebrates when others get a “good deal”

I knew I liked to have a plan. I am a planner by nature. I like to know exactly how much money we have at every given moment. I look up my husband’s LES the minute it comes out. I plan every paycheck out. I get very nervous when I know I am supposed to be paid money and it takes longer than it should. Even though logically I know I will get the money. I am nervous until I actually get it. I find my secondary one interesting because I don’t feel like I save as much as I should. I have my share of impulsive spending too. I do like to research a lot and I love getting a good deal.

My husband hasn’t taken the test yet but I am very curious to find out what his answers would be.

I love how this books talks about different situations and how people deal with them when it has to do with money. I think it would be a great book for any couple to read.

Website: http://themoneycouple.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMoneyCouple

Twitter: https://twitter.com/themoneycouple

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/themoneycouple

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Money-Personalities-Speaking-Language/dp/0849964784/

Would you like to win a copy of the book? Enter the Rafflecopter below 🙂

 

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* I received a copy of this book for review!

A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson Book Review and Giveaway

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Promise to ProtectI was able to read the book A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson for a review on my blog.  I just finished it last week!  I had done a review for Liz a while back and was excited about reading another one of her books.

Navy SEAL Matt Waterstone knows about keeping people safe. When his best friend’s sister is attacked, Matt promises no harm will come to Ashley Sawyer–not on his watch. But Matt’s not the only protective one. Ashley will do anything to safeguard the residents of the battered women’s shelter she runs. She’s sure she can handle the threats she gets in return. What she can’t handle is the way Matt scales the walls around her heart. Yet when she falls prey to a crime web more sinister than she’d realized, trusting Matt could be the only way to survive.

One of the things I liked about this book is that it takes place in California, which is where I am from.  I also liked the mystery that she puts into her books.  She makes you wonder and have to guess what is going on.  Another great thing about this book is that you really fall in love with the characters and you want good things to happen to them.  This was also a pretty quick read so perfect to take on vacation or read in a weekend.

About the Author:

Liz Johnson graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a degree in public relations and set out to work in Christian publishing. In 2006 she got her wish when she accepted a publicity position at a major trade book publisher. While working in the industry, she decided to pursue her other dream—becoming an author. She is now a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist, and A Promise to Protect is her fourth novel with Love Inspired Suspense. Liz makes her home in Nashville, TN, where she enjoys theater, exploring the local music scene, and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her two nephews and three nieces. She loves stories of true love with happy endings. Keep up with Liz’s adventures in writing at www.lizjohnsonbooks.com.

 

 

Author Interview:

What’s your new book, A Promise to Protect, about?

Ashley Sawyer has been the director of a battered women’s shelter for three years, so she’s no stranger to dealing with threats. But when she helps a young woman disappear, the threats become more intense than she’s ever experienced. Navy SEAL Matt Waterstone is happy to check on his best friend’s little sister, certain he can take care of the situation. But as Matt and Ashley search for the source of the threats, they uncover a plot more sinister than they ever imagined . . . and a love they never expected.

How did you get interested in writing about Navy SEALs?

When I was in college, I picked up a novel about a SEAL, and I was hooked. Who were these men unafraid of facing down the worst in this world? Who would go through such torturous training to be called the elite? I began watching documentaries on Special Forces units and reading everything I could about the men on the teams. Lately I’ve been reading biographies of SEALs including Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell and Fearless by Eric Blehm, fascinated by the type of personality it takes to become a SEAL.

It’s been said that good writers are good readers. What do you enjoy reading?

I’ll read just about anything that I can! And I read as often as I’m able. That translates into—whenever I’m not on deadline. My favorite books cross genres and years. As a kid, I read The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and I loved it! Still do. As an adult, I’ve really The Princess Bride and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Mostly I just enjoy a rich story with a happily ever after.

What have you enjoyed reading recently?

I’ve written three books this year—met three deadlines—so I haven’t had as much time to read as I’d like. But I did catch new books by some of my favorite historical authors—Julie Klassen and Karen Witemeyer. On a recent road trip I finally listened to the audio version of Susan Meissner’s The Shape of Mercy. It was wonderful!

Liz, what’s up next for you?

Right now I’m working on the follow up to A Promise to Protect, which is due out next year. It’s about Ashley’s brother and Matt’s best friend, Tristan. Then I’m scheduled to write a third book in my SEAL series. I’ve loved writing about the men of SEAL Team FIFTEEN and the women they fall in love with, so I’ll be sad when the series wraps up. I’m also working on a contemporary romance and bouncing at least a hundred and three other ideas around my mind.

 

Excerpt:

“Tristan is the closest thing I have to a brother. He’s worried about you, and so am I. Let me help.”

Fear flickered through Ashley’s eyes as she whispered, “Someone almost ran me over.”

“Tristan said something about a letter,” Matt pressed.

Ashley nodded. “When I got home that day, there was an anonymous note saying that someone wanted his property back.”

His gut clenched. What kind of jerk threatened a battered women’s shelter? “Listen, I’m in town for a few days. Let me look into things.”

She smiled up at him. “Thanks, but I got the note more than a week ago. If there was any danger, something else would have happened by now.”

As they reached her car, her smile died. He didn’t have to ask if she still thought the threat had passed as she took in the smashed windshield of her coupe. Tucked under a wiper blade, the person responsible for the mess had left a clear message.

            If I don’t get what’s mine, you’ll get what’s yours. 

 

You can win your owned signed copy of A Promise to Protect!  Just enter the Rafflecopter below 🙂

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* Was provided a free copy of this book for review!

Now You Tell Me! 12 Army Wives Give the Best Advice They Never Got: Making a Living, Making a Life Book Review

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I was able to review the book, Now You Tell Me! 12 Army Wives Give the Best Advice They Never Got: Making a Living, Making a Life by Sheridan Scott (Author), B.K. Sherer (Author) and Donna Lyons.

It features all different kinds of Army wives, including the wife of Retired 4 Star General Peter Chiorelli as well as the wives of wounded veterans and isolated moms.  It will be published on November 1, 2012.

This book is a great collection of stories from real Army Wives.  From their experiences marrying a soldier to deployments to helping children through the Military life.  There is a lot of great advice in this book from those who have been through all sorts of challenges with the Army.  Each of the wives have a different background and different experience as an Army wife.  I liked hearing the different perspectives.  Some of the info they gave I could relate to and others I haven’t experienced myself but I know of others who have.

The book is broken down so each wife gets her own chapter.  This makes it easy to read and I like that the first part of each chapter included a picture of the person telling the story.

Living as an Army wife can be a challenging experience for a lot of people.  It helps to know we aren’t alone and hearing others and their stories helps make the journey a little easier.

There are also some charts in the back which can help you understand rank, size of the different units, abbreviations and even military time.  This book would be an excellent gift for a new Army wife and even encouraging for a wife whose husband has been in a few years.

You can purchase the book on Amazon 🙂

 

* I was provided a free copy of the book to review.

Service: A Navy Seal at War by Marcus Luttrell Book Review

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Service a Navy Seal at WarI was asked to do a book review of the book, Service: A Navy Seal at War by Marcus Luttrell.  Now I don’t normally read books about war.  I guess I just never felt drawn to them but this book looked interesting-

After coming home from a fateful, star-crossed mission in Afghanistan, Marcus Luttrell recuperated and nursed his body and heart back to health. Throughout this time, he wondered why he and others, from America’s founding to today, had been willing to sacrifice everything—including themselves—for the sake of family, nation, and freedom.

Then, in October 2006, Luttrell did what any SEAL would do. He went back to war, this time as part of SEAL Team 5. Luttrell spent six months in the most dangerous city in the world, Ramadi, Iraq, in Anbar Province—Al Qaeda’s self-proclaimed capital in the Middle East. Full of high-intensity urban fighting, the battle for Ramadi was perhaps the most perilous U.S. military undertaking of the Iraq war. The epic battle ran from 2005 into 2007, and the fighting crested at the time Luttrell arrived, in 2006.

 Luttrell fought fiercely, and by the time he left, the city was virtually becalmed. Ramadi was the bookend success to Operation Redwing’s disaster and has been called the greatest victory in the history of U.S. Special Operations forces. In SERVICE, Luttrell walks us through this unbelievable battlefield and also offers new insight about his time in Afghanistan, Operation Redwing, and his awe-inspiring rescue.

Returning home and leaving military life, Luttrell began a quest to understand why a rare few choose to risk their lives to serve their country. Now married and a father, Luttrell also looks at the women who marry SEALs. The book features four women who discuss in their own words the challenges and rewards of being married to a serviceman. Luttrell also shares stories of brave warriors who served with him all over the world, including:

 

  • · The legendary SEAL master chief who showed him how America’s greatest warriors must put their lives on the line for a mission larger than themselves

 

  • · The Afghani tribesman who gave him shelter when his hopes were dimming on a distant mountain—and traveled to America five years later to deliver a powerful message

 

  • · The dedicated Air Force pilots who took part in the epic combat search-and-rescue mission to find his teammates in Afghanistan, searching relentlessly night after night until the last sliver of hope disappeared

 

  • · The ex-Mormon missionary and his five-man team who flew a helicopter on the impossible midnight rescue mission to take Luttrell off that mountain

 

  • · The SEAL senior chief petty officer who helped Luttrell kill the stigma of being the lone survivor

 

  • · The decorated 89-year-old Marine Corps veteran whose example of peace and grace helped Luttrell get past his conviction he wouldn’t see age 40, and past his regrets after going through the crucible of close combat

Reflecting on what it really means to take on a higher calling, about the men Luttrell has seen lose their lives for their country, and on the legacy of those who came and bled before, SERVICE is both a war story for the ages and a moving and heartfelt tribute to all who have served.

Marcus Luttrell became a combat-trained Navy SEAL in 2002 and served in many dangerous special operations assignments around the world. He was deployed to Afghanistan in the spring of 2005. He was awarded the Navy Cross for combat heroism in 2006 by President George W. Bush, and received his discharge from the Navy in June 2007. For more information, please visit www.marcusluttrell.com.

 James D. Hornfischer is the author of the New York Times bestseller Neptune’s Inferno, as well as Ship of Ghosts and The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, which won the Samuel Eliot Morison Award and was a Main Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club. He lives in Austin, Texas.

I have to say that I learned a lot about being a Navy Seal through this book.  I realized that I have heard of Navy Seals before and thought I had a general idea of what they did but there was a lot I didn’t know.  This book let me into his world and I got to see about what it is like to be a Navy Seal.  I also found it interesting that he was in Iraq when Ben was the first time and even worked with another unit in Ben’s Brigade.

The author gets into the missions he went on and what happened to some of the men during the missions.  Some of it was hard to read but I thought it was so important to his story.  At the end of the book we get to hear from some of the Navy Seal wives.  I could relate to some of what they were talking about when it came to deployments and supporting someone in the Military.

After finishing this book I wanted to read more about others experiences in the Military and overseas so I will be reading more books like this one in the future.

I was provided a free book for review from Little, Brown and Company. 

Intro To Army Life by Allison Mewes Book Review

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intro to army life

I was happy to receive the book Intro to Army Life by Allison Mewes for review.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Intro to Army Life: A Handbook for Spouses and Significant Others Entering the Army Lifestyle was created to encourage, educate and inspire those entering the army culture. No one hands you a guidebook when you enter Army life; you either have to learn the hard way or stumble upon resources on your own…until now. Intro to Army Life gives you the tools and resources necessary to make your transition into the Army lifestyle easier, less stressful and more fun. You don’t have to learn the hard way—all the information you need is here, ready to help you make the transition. Along with engaging personal narrative and stories, Intro to Army Life includes:

• Army hierarchy and social structure
• 15 tips for dealing with a deployment
• Perks of a military ID
• Top 25 Army acronyms
• Military discounts and how to find them
• Top 10 resources for military children
• Fun facts, such as where the term “military brat” originated
• …and much more!

Intro to Army Life is an excellent resource for the individual reader or for companies promoting educational resources for the U.S. Army.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Allison Mewes became an army spouse one week before her husband left for a three-week Annual Training and then deployed for a year to the Middle East. While he was away, she wrote this book. Her experiences as a newlywed entering the army lifestyle, along with the humorous things that happened along the way, inspired her to help other military spouses and significant others make the transition into army life.

My Thoughts: I really wish I had gotten this book when Ben first joined the Army. In fact, if I ever hear about a friend about to become an Army spouse I am going to send a copy to her. This book is perfect because it tells you what you need to know without making it too complicated. She breaks down everything into basic chapters. This is great when you read it the first time and great to use as a reference for later on. She has included a ton of resources that would be very important for an Army spouse to have. I really liked seeing the 10 resources for children especially. That information is so important. I also really liked the pictures of the uniform describing what everything means. This is going to be a great book to have for reference. I may have been an Army wife for 6.5 years now but there are still situations and parts of Army life I still don’t know about. So if you are new the Army or even if you are a seasoned spouse, this would be a great book to have on your bookshelf.

 

And here is a link to the blog tour!

Here is the author’s website and you can find the book on Amazon!

 

 

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Tour of Duty Preparing Our Hearts for Deployment by Sara Horn

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Tour Of DutyI am excited to share with you a book review of Tour of Duty Preparing Our Hearts for Deployment by Sara Horn.  Since becoming an Army wife in 2005, I am always on the lookout for a good book about our life & how to get through it.  I was excited to see Sara Horn had come out with a new devotional book on deployment.

Deployments are such a part of our military lives but getting through one can be very difficult sometimes.

I have been through 2 deployments and I felt like this book touched on so many of the thoughts & feelings I have experienced during the separations.  Included in each chapter are verses, questions and even “Tips for Military Wives.”  I think this book would be an awesome Bible study and would love to do it with a group of ladies someday.

I also will be rereading this again when we start our next deployment.  There were some parts that I read where I knew it would be very helpful to go back and read during the middle of a deployment.  The chapter called “Facing the Giants” especially as it deals with those what ifs or worries we all seem to go through when our husband is deployed.

Another thing I really liked about this book is her comparisons to biblical characters and what they have gone through in their lives.  It makes you realize that although our struggles might have looked different, they dealt with a lot of the same emotions we might deal with right now.

One more small thing, I really really liked the cover of this book.  Something about the pink on the green 🙂

The book has a Facebook page and you can buy the book from Lifeway 🙂

I received a free copy of this book from Sara Horn for this review!

Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan Book Review and Giveaway

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Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq and Afghanistan

I was contacted by Jocelyn Green a bit ago about participating in a Veteran’s Week Blog Tour for the book Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan.  I am a huge fan of her book Faith Deployed so I knew any book she was apart of was going to be great.

Battlefields and Blessings is a book made up of a bunch of different stories/devotionals. Co-authored by Jane Hampton Cook, Jocelyn Green and John Croushorn.

The book has 1 entry for each day of the year. Now I read the book all the way through over a few weeks.  But you could also just read 1 entry a day based on the day or a couple each day.  The entries are from different people associated with the military in some way.  From Chaplains who work at the Pentagon who were there on 9/11, to military wives having to get through deployments.  A lot of people who wrote them have about 3-4 entries each.  I found this pretty cool because it let me know a little bit more about each of the people who wrote them.  At the end of each entry, there is a short prayer for us to read.  I could really see this book as a great tool to have during a hard situation such as a deployment. There are stories of faith, what people have gone through and some very inspirational thoughts that just stick with you.

The people who wrote in this book felt very real to me.   Sometimes there were entries from a husband and wife and it was great to hear from both of them.  There were stories about 9/11, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and life back at home.  Stories from mothers and wives and from those who have been to war.  I also really enjoyed the layout and even how the book was put together.  Just a great mix of people.

The one entry that sticks out to me was from a military wife Kerri Hartwick who lost her husband in Iraq.  One of the prayers listed said,  “Lord, prepare my heart for whatever you have in store for me.”  Really this is what we have to deal with in life.  We don’t know the future or if our prayers will be answered but we can know God is there for us through whatever we must go through. There were many other entries that made me feel very encouraged as well.

Would you like to win a copy of this book?  Trust me it is amazing!  It is also autographed by Jocelyn Green.

Here is how the giveaway will work…

It starts now!  And it ends Sunday November 14th, 2010 at 11:59pm Central time.

To enter please answer this question:

What encourages you the most during a hard time?  Any favorite verses that come to mind?

That is it!  Good luck 🙂

PS make sure I have a way to email you if you win 🙂

For more information here are the websites…

Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan

Faith Deployed

I received a free signed copy of the book Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan for this review.  And an additional copy to giveaway to one of my readers.